Pierce County profile

Learn about Pierce County's unique labor market information and more.

Posted May 2025

April 2025 Highlights

In April, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.6% from 4.8% in March and total nonfarm employment increased by 2,100.

Summary

Pierce County is the second most populous county in the state based on the 2020 census. Tacoma is the county seat and largest city. Pierce County’s economy is supported by various industries, including aerospace, health care, logistics and technology. Its government sector is bolstered by Joint Base Lewis-McChord which is the sector’s largest employer. Pierce County is also home to the Port of Tacoma, the sixth busiest container port in North America and one of the 25 busiest in the world. 

The county is a regional component of the Puget Sound economy. Its proximity to King County gives Pierce County residents access to the labor market in both counties. Today, 25% to 30% of workers residing in Pierce County commute to King County for work. 

Location

A dark blue map of Washington state with Pierce County highlighted in orange.

Pierce County is located at the southern basin of Puget Sound, and shares contiguous boundaries with six counties: King, Thurston, Kitsap, Mason, Lewis, and Yakima. Formed out of Thurston County in 1852 by the legislature of the Oregon territory, it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce. The county is a mix of old and newly incorporated cities, growing unincorporated areas, large-scale federal military installations, and rural areas.

Pierce County is part of the three-county Seattle Tacoma Bellevue MSA and as a subset of the MSA is the Tacoma-Lakewood Metropolitan Division

Employment situation for April 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Pierce County was 4.6% in April 2025, down from 4.8% in March 2025 and up from 4.3% 12 months ago.

  • The labor force increased over the year, adding 3,642 participants (up 0.7%).

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Pierce County from January 2014 to April 2025.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment increased by 2,100 from March 2025 to April 2025.

  • Overall, employment growth continues but is slowing.

  • Over the month, employment increased in six major industry sectors, decreased in five and was unchanged in one. The largest increase was in leisure and hospitality. The deepest loss occurred in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

  • From April 2024 to April 2025, total nonfarm employment expanded by 1,000, or 0.3%

  • Over the course of the year, employment in six major industries expanded and six contracted.

  • Of the industry sectors, employment in wholesale trade increased the most while mining, logging and construction experienced the deepest one-year losses.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Pierce County

NAICS Industry Title Apr 2025 (Prelim) Mar 2025 (Revised) Apr 2024 (Revised) Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 344,700 342,600 343,700 2,100 1,000 0.3%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 283,500 281,400 282,600 2,100 900 0.3%
Goods-producing 39,700 39,800 42,500 -100 -2,800 -6.6%
- Mining, logging and construction 23,300 23,500 25,700 25,200 -200 -0.8%
- Manufacturing 16,400 16,300 16,800 100 -400 -2.4%
Service-providing 305,000 302,800 301,200 2,200 3,800 1.3%
- Wholesale trade 71,600 71,800 70,600 -200 1,000 1.4%
- Retail trade 14,300 14,200 13,300 100 1,000 7.5%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 9,200 9,300 9,300 -100 -100 -1.1%
- Information 21,700 22,100 21,100 -400 600 2.8%
- Financial activities 1,800 1,900 2,000 -100 -200 -10.0%
- Professional and business services 14,700 15,000 14,800 -300 -100 -0.7%
- Private education and health services 22,700 22,600 22,500 100 200 0.9%
- Leisure and hospitality 14,600 14,600 13,700 0 900 6.6%
- Other services 27,700 27,700 28,800 0 -1,100 -3.8%
- Government 13,600 13,400 13,400 200 200 1.5%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024updated May 16, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Detailed tables can be found on the source page in the third spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted.

Industry employment (covered employment)

Employment in government services makes up roughly 22% of all total nonfarm employment in Pierce County. Joint Base Lewis-McChord figures prominently, particularly through the proportion of federal workers employed. Emerald Queen Casino, which is classified within local government, is also a large employer in the area.

Pierce County serves as a regional provider of health care for the South Puget Sound. MultiCare Health System and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are the largest providers of health care across the county.

Construction employment is important in Pierce County. Housing development has grown into local suburbs that offers a lower cost alternative for commuters to King County. The continual need to upgrade and modernize facilities at the military base also helps support residential construction activity and military contract work for the construction industry.

Employment by industry, Pierce County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Pierce County

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Pierce County, from highest to lowestSource: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

Average annual covered employment in Pierce County was 330,904 in 2023. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.

Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (58,671)
  • Health care and social assistance (54,778)
  • Retail trade (36,867)
  • Accommodation and food services (29,482)
  • Administrative and waste management services (24,768)

Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Pierce County for all industries was $66,977 in 2023.

The top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Utilities ($120,194)
  • Finance and insurance ($98,559)
  • Information ($97,354)
  • Utilities ($96,721)
  • Real estate and rental and leasing ($95,594)

Workforce demographics for Pierce County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 11,508 47.0% 6.7%
16 to 19 years 558 45.5% 22.0%
20 to 24 years 828 62.8% 8.5%
25 to 29 years 533 86.5% 5.2%
30 to 34 years 701 70.8% 4.8%
35 to 44 years 1,309 79.8% 6.6%
45 to 54 years 1,523 71.0% 6.4%
55 to 59 years 1,230 50.1% 4.9%
60 to 64 years 1,097 45.5% 9.4%
65 to 74 years 2,417 16.6% 0.0%
75 years and over 1,312 2.7% 0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 10,147 45.1% 7.0%
Black or African American alone 17 29.4% 0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 210 43.3% 3.3%
Asian alone 46 15.2% 0.0%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 25 100.0% 0.0%
Some other race alone 195 53.3% 0.0%
Two or more races 868 69.2% 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 405 44.7% 15.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 10,079 45.3% 7.0%
Population 20 to 64 years 7,221 65.4% 6.5%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 3,712 71.1% 9.0%
Female 3,509 59.2% 3.4%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 1,039 68.2% 1.7%
With own children under 6 only 253 83.8% 1.4%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 176 63.6% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 610 63.1% 2.3%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 1,201 37.1% 19.5%
At or above the poverty level 5,970 71.6% 5.1%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 1,302 30.3% 8.4%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 6,393 65.7% 6.3%
Less than high school graduate 336 39.3% 5.3%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 2,294 65.5% 10.2%
Some college or associate's degree 2,586 66.6% 3.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,177 71.5% 5.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Pierce County.

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